The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1887-04-07

PlcKett ,ApthoriZlng, as lar as MS
name Gan authorize, such extraor-
binary aGion. About the time Mr..
Mcclure gets himself and bonds
men we'll into the trap, he may re-
ceiye another letter or a telegram
from J. ID. P, tountermanding the
whole "business." Mr.. McClure]
seems to anticipate trouble in this
matter and well he may; for there
are certainly men, conscious Of their
own integrity and ability as teach
ers,who will not regard his decision.
Mr.. Mcclure will refuse to pay them
their wages and this will give rise to 4
action against him ION his official
bonP under Art. WI, Sec. Ii. Com
mon School Law.
| Mr.. Mcclure says Il had sincere
ly hoped to be spared the decision
of a question to which 80 much re-
Ispongibility attaches" and one nat
urally hurries on through the de
cisionoof a matter from which he
was so feryently supplicating to "beI
spared" Here is his first reason
"My action in this will, in part, bet
ter enable me to care tor the schools
of my county and see that the same
are supplied with qualified teachers
and win enable me to better ao-
quaint myself with the attainments
OF teachers who may seek schools
in Lawrence county"!l Does Mr..
Mcclure acknowledge this publicly
tina. one reason for his extraordina-
~ action is his own convenience?
Does he not know the law makes it
his duty to visit the schools and see
, teachers at work? Did he perform
THE important duty2 II SO, did he
, not "acguaint himself with the at
|, tainments Of teachers? If some
were found incompetent did he fail
to perform his sworn duty in not
lrevokins their certificates? II 9th
. ers we're incompetent, as doubtless
, was the case, does he reward them
by feyoking their certificates with.
out cassep
Another reason he assigns is that
:. n teacher should mot be under
eighteen years Of age" There is
no law TO warrant him in making
!, this arbitrary age qualification
! The Legislature has thought best IL
: leave ii with the board Of examiner
= to decide whether for any reason
: applicants are incompetent. NJ
:, age qualification 10 mentioned, anC
, there should be none. The young
/" enthusiastic teacher, as rule, i
y the best. He generally works b!
i latest methods and succeeds wher'
= the "old fogy" has failed for years
A third reason Mr.. Mcclure Us
signs for his decision is that it j
publicly talked even among teach
a. ers' that "some of their co-laborer
are totally incompetent" and tina
" some have obtained certificates G
too high o grade through "chicar
s. ery and trickery" and "been a
is lowed to familiarize themselve
with State questions" prior to ex
N animation. And, then, says he
ID "This may or may not be true
le This is an unintentional admissio
that he has before him no evidenc
~ whatever that the above rumor
~ are based on facts. He has simpl
ne acted from hearsay. There is n
sworn witness, no affidavit, no creo
IN ible informer named-nothing BIT
Is ENTHUSIASTICALLY, irresponsible rumo
xt But admitting Che truth of TIL
II, hearsav and we have "some incon
OF petentn and therefore only som
rs ought to have their certificates r,
re voked. Mr.. Mcclure has revoke
all certificates on the mere rune
i that some teachers are incompetent
The injustice is apparent.
/ was member of t. l.. Moore
ne board of examiners. So was NJ
or Elan. The first class certificate
al issued by that board have not y,
m expired. Mr.. Mcclure has revoke
u them. He says by that action tn;
is said board was incompetent, III
is worthy, careless and dishones
ne Why, then, has he chosen Mr.. Ella
m MS n member of this model, new, il
I'd, corruptible and undeilled boart
Is Mr.. Elam's signature Of 80 wort
more than the same OF '84? w
:. Mr. Elam influenced by me and NJ
Moore to do wrongY Then he
W. dishonest. Did we deceive him
TIL to qualification of applicant
Ter Then he is incompetent. In eth
of case why did Mr.. Mcclure choo
,ur him as examiner If these cert
rst Gates were properly granted, wi
W. did he revoke them? The on
,ir. way out ofthls dilemma is for N
ut. Mcclure to declare that in seekil
ms to do his duty he has made blu
tn der which he proposes to correct al
rd- for which he asks pardon of his fl
ION low-citizens.
&C. In conclusion, l heartily appro
my of Mr.. McClure's zeal in reformil
M 49, tooobaro of T atyrapno tbouul